xi, 326 pages ; 24 cm

"Getting By in Hard Times describes the experiences of working-class women and men during the period of 'economic restructuring' that began in the 1980s. Meg Luxton and June Corman examine the shift from a pattern where women were full-time housewives and men were income earners to one where women are increasingly income earners as well." "Based on a case study conducted from 1983 to 1996 of households where one person was employed at Stelco's manufacturing plant in Hamilton, Ontario, the book shows how working-class families make a living by combining paid employment and unpaid domestic labour. Four surveys and in-depth interviews were conducted in 1984, with follow-up interviews in 1994 and 1996. During this period of government cutbacks and increasing participation in the labour force by women, there was a loss of secure employment for men, as the steel plant cut its labour force by about two-thirds. Standards of living went down because of reduced incomes and the imposition of more unpaid work on the family household." "Getting By in Hard Times shows how growing insecurities undermined class politics while heating up gender, racial, and ethnic tensions. At the same time, people struggled to find ways of making their lives better. By focusing on the daily coping strategies of working-class women and men, this book gives a human face to Canada's changing gender, race, and class politics."--Jacket

Includes bibliographical references (pages 291-314) and index

A world turned upside down: working-class lives in Hamilton, 1980-1996 -- Families at work: the dynamics of paid employment and unpaid domestic labour -- Working for Stelco -- Restructuring Hilton works -- Women's work: juggling job and family -- Domestic labour as maintaining a household -- Domestic labour as caring for people -- Making a life: leisure and social acitivites -- Dreams and dilemmas: trying to make sense of it all

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